Bobbin holder



Sept i9, 1967 WATTENFORD 3,342,436

BOBBIN HOLDER Filed July 1l, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l Ll g-q-w---H-mw f FW. 7

-INVENTOR. 45PM/qw a4 77E/vroeg Sept. i9, 1967 H. WATTENFORD BOBBIN HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July ll, 1966 /A/ VE/V, 701? United States Patent O 3,342,436 BOBBIN HOLDER Herman Wattenford, P.0. Box 788, Bridgeport, Wash. 98813 Filed July 11, 1966, Ser. No. 564,278 2 Claims. (Cl. 242-134) This invention relates generally to sewing machine accessories. More specifically it relates to holders for bobbins.

It is generally well known to those skilled in the art that sewing machine threads are made in different gauge thicknesses as well as of different materials and various shades of color. In the operation of a sewing machine two separate threads are required to accomplish a stitch upon the material being sewn. One of these threads is pulled from a spool whereas the other of the threads is taken from a bobbin located under the base plate of the sewing machine head. In a correct operation of sewing, both these threads should be of like color, material and gauge. Accordingly when sewing in the home, the housemaker transfers a portion of the thread from the spool to the bobbin prior to the sewing operation. Thereafter when desiring to sew with another color or weight of thread, both the bobbin and spool are removed from the sewing machine and substituted with another color or weight of thread. The removed spool and bobbin are usually placed in a sewing machine cabinet or drawer from which the homemaker must again relocate the proper spool and bobbin associated with each other when returning to sew with the former threads. In view of the general confusion and often difficult task of relocating the proper bobbin with the correct thread spool, the operator finds herself using dissimilar threads together.

Accordingly it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a means whereby a spool of thread may remain in association with a bobbin of like thread when not in operative use.

Another object is to provide a self-contained unit providing a means for supporting a plurality of bobbins containing thread and also supporting separately a length of thread, the unit being adaptable for being mounted upon a sewing machine in substitute of a conventional spool.

Other objects are to provide a bobbin clip which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, easy to use and efficient in operation.

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a cross-sectional view showing one form of the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a modified cap,

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of another modified cap! FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of a modified bobbin clip,

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of still another modified form of bobbin clip,

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of another modified form of bobbin clip, and

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation view of still another modified form of bobbin clip.

FIGURE 8 is a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing a further modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view of yet another modified form;

FIGURE 10` is a perspective view of a -bobbin hold down device, and

FIGURE 1l is a side view of a modified form thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, the numeral ICC 10 represents a bobbin clip holder or container according to the present invention wherein there is a longitudinal cylindrical container 11 having a cylindrical side wall 12, and end wall 13 having an opening 14 therein for receiving a shaft 15 therethrough and upon which a plurality of bobbins 16 may be received within the container 11. An end cap 17 having a flange 18 is frictionally retained within the opening 19 of the cylindrical container 11. A generally conical shaped base 20` is rigidly secured to the container 11 and a shaft 15 is threaded at one end as shown at 21. The threaded end of the shaft is receivable within a standard threaded opening of a sewing machines spool plate 22 upon which the base 20 may be supported. A single length of thread 23 is wound around the cylinder 411 as is indicated by the dotted line in FIGURE 1, the ybobbin clip holder thus serving as a spool upon the outer side of which thread is wound and within `the center of which a plurality of bobbins may be carried.

As shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, various forms of end caps may be used instead of the end cap 17 shown in FIGURE l. Thus an end cap 24 having fiexible springs 25 may be used or an end cap 26 having a checkered finger grip 27 and friction tight portion 28 may be likewise used instead.

A modified bobbin clip holder 29 shown in FIGURE 4, includes a cylindrical container 30, a bobbin shaft 31 therewithin, an enlarged conical base 32 at one end and a bushing 30 forming an end wall of the container 30, the bushing having an opening 33 therewithin for receiving one end of a standard diameter pin 34. The pin 34 is threaded at one end as shown at 3S for being secured to a sewing machines spool plate.

In FIGURE 5 a modified bobbin clip is shown to include a pair of plastic tubes 36 which are received within the ends of opening 37 in a common spool 38, either of the tubes being engageable by a clip 39 carrying a bobbin 16, the clip having sidewardly projecting protrusions 40 engageable over protrusions 41 on the tu-bes. The bobbin 16 has a central opening 42 and receiving the clip 39 therethrough, the bobbin being retained between an enlarged head 43 on the clip and one of the end walls 44 of the spool when the clip is engaged with one of the plastic tubes 36.

In FIGURE 6 a modified bobbin clip holder 45 comprises a cylindrical member made of plastic, rubber or the like, and includes a portion 46 having a diameter equivalent for a friction fit within a bobbin and a portion 47 having a diameter equivalent for a friction fit within opening 37 of a spool 38.

A modified bobbin clip 48 shown in FIGURE 7, receivable with opening 42 of a bobbin includes an enlarged head 49 and a plurality of opening prongs 50 each of which is serrated as `shown at 51 for frictional grip within lopening 37 of spool 38.

Another modified bobbin clip holder 52 is shown in FIGURE 8 which may be of any size or of any material to suit the textile industry. The inner chamber 53 is of sufficient diameter so to receive any and all type of bobbins now on the market. The Pfaff bob'bins are 'Ms inch in diameter, thus it is suggested the chamber be one inch in diameter. The purpose of this model is to hold off selling in favor of the disposable type spool. It is a great time saver, for in winding one bobbin, a person may as Well wind a full load to fill the holder.

In FIGURE 9 a like clip holder 54 is shown, and including -a removable shaft 55 for bobbins and supported between plates 56 and 57 at each end, the plate 57 being adjacent `and integral a friction or screw type end cap 58. The bobbin shaft can be used on the new thread loader tube.

In FIGURE 10 a retainer 59 for bobbins is shown, the retainer having spring steel arms 60 with tips 61 turned over.

FIGURE l1 shows a retainer 62 wherein the arm 63 is downwardly depressed with a thumb nail to allow a bobbin to slide off sideways.

While various changes may be made in the detailed construction it is understood that such changes made wiil be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as is defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a bobbin holder, the combination of a cylindrical container, an enlarged conical base at one end of said container, an end cap at the other end of said container, said end cap being removable therefrom, said container comprising a cylindrical side wall and an end wall, said end wall providing shaft support means for threadingly securing said bobbin holder to a standard sewing machine spool plate, said end wall `further providing shaft support means for supporting a plurality of bobbins within said container, said shaft support means comprising said end wall having a central opening therethrough and an elongated shaft extending through said opening into said cylindrical container for supporting said bobbins, the end of said shaft extending outwardly through said container being externally threaded for engagement with said standard sewing machine spool plate, and said cylindrical container having a portion of said cylindrical side wall within said conical base, and said conical base comprising a conical shell diverging outwardly from said cylindrical side wall.

2. In a `bobbin holder, the combination of a cylindrical container, an enlarged conical base at one end 4of said container, an end cap at the other end of said container, said end cap lbeing removable therefrom, said container comprising a cylindrical side wall and an end wall, said end wall providing shaft support means for threadingly securing said bobhin holder to a standard sewing machine spool plate, said end wall further providing shaft support means `for supporting a plurality of bobbins Within said container, wherein said hobbin support means comprises a bushing formed on the outer side of said container end wall for receiving therein a pin threadingly secured in said standard sewing machine spool plate, and said end wall having a shaft centrally secured thereto and extending into said container to support said plurality of bobbins.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 475,511 5/1892 Miller 242-134 1,029,518 6/1912 Temple 242--138 3,009,611 11/1961 Bates 223-106 LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN. Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A BOBBIN HOLDER, THE COMBINATION OF A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER, AN ENLARGED CONICAL BASE AT ONE END OF SAID CONTAINER, AN END CAP AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CONTAINER, SAID END CAP BEING REMOVABLE THEREFROM, SAID CONTAINER COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL AND AN END WALL, SAID END WALL PROVIDING SHAFT SUPPORT MEANS FOR THREADINGLY SECURING SAID BOBBIN HOLDER TO A STANDARD SEWING MACHINE SPOOL PLATE, SAID END WALL FURTHER PROVIDING SHAFT SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PLURALITY OF BOBBINS WITHIN SAID CONTAINER, SAID SHAFT SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING SAID END WALL HAVING A CENTRAL OPENING THERETHROUGH AND AN ELONGATED SHAFT EXTENDING THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO SAID CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER FOR SUPPORTING SAID BOBBINS, THE END OF SAID SHAFT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH SAID CONTAINER BEING EXTERNALLY THREADED FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STANDARD SEWING MACHINE SPOOL LATE, AND SAID CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HAVING A PORTION OF SAID CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL WITHIN SAID CONICAL BASE, AND SAID CONICAL BASE COMPRISING A CONICAL SHELL DIVERGING OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL SIDE WALL. 